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Definitions

fly the coop

VERB
abandon
Synonyms
STRONGEST
desert discard discontinue ditch drop out dump leave pull out quit stop surrender vacate withdraw
STRONG
abdicate drop duck dust screw yield
WEAK
back out bail out bow out chicken out cop out cut loose flake out give up the ship kiss goodbye leg it let go opt out run out on ship out storm out take a powder take a walk throw over walk out on wash hands of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance allow begin come continue go hold keep maintain persevere remain start stay
WEAK
adopt assert cherish defend favor pursue retain support uphold
VERB
abscond
Synonyms
STRONG
bolt break decamp disappear escape fade flee get hightail jump leave quit scram skedaddle slip slip away split vamoose vanish
WEAK
beat it clear out cut and run dog it duck out go AWOL go south make a break make off make scarce pull out run off skip out sneak away steal away take off
Antonyms
STRONG
appear arrive come continue face join remain stay strengthen wait
WEAK
abide endure give up stop yield
VERB
escape
Synonyms
STRONGEST
avoid depart disappear dodge elude emerge evade flee fly leave run slip slip away vanish
STRONG
abscond bolt circumvent decamp desert double duck elope pass shun skip
WEAK
bail out burst out cut and run cut loose duck out get away with get off go scot-free make getaway make off make oneself scarce play hooky run away run off run out on steal away take a powder take flight take on the lam work out of wriggle out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
appear arrive come confront continue encounter face meet stand stay take on wait walk
STRONG
accept aid assist help
WEAK
capture remain
VERB
flee
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart desert fly get jump leave retreat take off vanish
STRONG
abscond avoid blow bolt break decamp elude evade hotfoot scamper scoot scram skedaddle skip slip slip away split vamoose
WEAK
beat a hasty retreat cut and run cut out get away get the hell out make a getaway make off make one's escape make oneself scarce make quick exit make tracks step on it step on the gas take a hike take flight
Antonyms
STRONGEST
arrive come continue face stay
STRONG
dawdle join meet take on wait
WEAK
stand
VERB
lam
Synonyms
STRONG
abscond avoid blow bolt circumvent decamp depart desert disappear dodge double duck elope elude emerge evade flee fly leave pass run shun skip vanish
WEAK
bail out break out burst out cut and run cut loose duck out get away get away with get off give someone the slip go scot-free make a getaway make getaway make off make oneself scarce play hooky run away run off run out on slip away steal away take a powder take flight take it on the lam take on the lam work out of wriggle out
Antonyms
STRONG
accept aid appear arrive assist come come in confront continue encounter face help meet remain stand stay stop take on wait walk
VERB
skedaddle
Synonyms
STRONG
blow bolt dart dash decamp expedite fly hasten hurry hustle leave move race run rush scamper scat scoot scurry speed split spur vamoose whiz zip
WEAK
clear out get a move on go like lightning hightail it hurry up make haste make oneself scarce make time make tracks move fast shake a leg step on it take off
Antonyms
STRONG
cease come dally dawdle decelerate delay discourage dissuade halt procrastinate remain rest slow stay stop wait walk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Don Knotts, “Mr. Chicken” himself, was ready to fly the coop out of L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Before you fly the coop, save up a cushion of three to 12 months of living expenses.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2023

And so the last dove prepares to fly the coop, and the end of an era of super-cheap liquidity comes into view.

From Reuters • Dec. 20, 2022

Research on previous social media platform migrations shows what might lie ahead for Twitter users who fly the coop.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2022

All considered, it may be in my best interest to fly the coop rather than sit on my current nest egg.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.